Not everyone can spend $1 million or more on a second home, even if it’s with the idea that eventually you’ll retire there. So when MoneyWise’s list of 40 places to retire that are more budget-friendly came out, we were curious — what kind of homes could you find in these towns?

Last week, we looked at the 39th city on the list — Cape Coral, Florida. This week, we look at the first Texas spot on the list — The Woodlands, and found you could find a great selection well within the $300,000 to just shy of $500,000 range.

Why The Woodlands?

“This community of approximately 100,000 is a well-kept secret for retirees,” said Moneywise. “The Woodlands offers excellent housing and a low cost of living. The median rent is $1,300, and median home prices are around $300,000.”

“This town has very low crime, and the weather is lovely and warm,” it adds. “The Woodlands’ proximity to Houston gives you access to quality health care just a short drive away.”

So what can you get for less than $500,000? Let’s take a look.

RENOVATED MEDITERRANEAN CLOSE TO AMENITIES

Price: $319,000

At the lowest end of our price point, this custom home in the coveted Grogans Mill neighborhood is also — bonus — in a golf course community.(more…)

Editor’s Note: Recently, MoneyWise revealed its list of the 40 most frugal and friendly places to retire. In a bid to provide an idea of what housing inventory is available in these cities and towns, we’re taking a look at listings in each of the cities on the list.

Not everyone can spend $1 million or more on a second home, even if it’s with the idea that eventually you’ll retire there. So when MoneyWise’s list of 40 places to retire that are more budget-friendly came out, we were curious — what kind of homes could you find in these towns?

Last week, we looked at the 40th city on the list — Scottsdale, Arizona. This week, we look at Cape Coral, and found lots of incredible inventory for as low as the $150,000s to the millions.

There is something for every budget, it seems.

“Although there will be some rebuilding to do in this city after Hurricane Irma, Cape Coral is a lovely town worthy of your consideration,” Moneywise said. “Cape Coral is located on the west coast of the peninsula and is known for its low crime rate, excellent restaurants, and perpetually sunny Florida weather!”

“The cost of living in Cape Coral is relatively low when compared to the cost of living in Miami or Fort Lauderdale,” the story added.

The city offers much in the way of amenities (as do many of the planned communities), including golf, splash grounds, art studios, and more. But with more than 400 miles of canals, you can bet that boating, fishing, and other water activities take center stage.

This Scottsdale, Arizona, condo boasts waterfront and desert views, but has a budget-friendly price.

Editor’s Note: Recently, MoneyWise revealed its list of the 40 most frugal and friendly places to retire. In a bid to provide an idea of what housing inventory is available in these cities and towns, we’re taking a look at listings in each of the cities on the list.

Not everyone can spend $1 million or more on a second home, even if it’s with the idea that eventually you’ll retire there. So when MoneyWise’s list of 40 places to retire that are more budget-friendly came out, we were curious — what kind of homes could you find in these towns?

We decided to take a look. Number 40 on the list? Scottsdale, Arizona. Just east of Phoenix, the town of about 200,000 or so is home to a lot of golfing, a lot of shopping, and warm weather pretty much year around.

It’s also (for a few months every year) a baseball lover’s paradise, since the Major League Baseball spring training camps of the Cactus League are sprinkled around Arizona, with two in Scottsdale proper.

“This community of a little more than 200,000 people offers gorgeous warm weather, beautiful parks, and immaculate streets,” MoneyWise explained. “Its proximity to Phoenix makes it a fantastic place for shopping, restaurants, and entertainment.”

“Owing in a large part to the year-round arid weather, Scottsdale and Phoenix are home to world-famous golf courses,” the story continued. “Healthcare in Scottsdale is known to be excellent. It should be noted that the Mayo Clinic has one of its three major branches in Scottsdale.”

So what did we find in Scottsdale? We found some frugal, some fairly frugal, and some not really frugal at all options. Today, we’ll look at two homes in two different price points, so you can get an idea of what your second home dollar can buy.(more…)